6 Insider Tips to Buying Your First Real Mattress

Entering adulthood is full of big moments — everything from buying your first car and collecting your first paycheck to making your debut as a hostess at your first apartment. Even though some milestones may be more obvious than others, it can be easy to overlook simple decisions, like what color to paint your bedroom or what mattress to buy. Well, turns out the latter is a question a lot of people are asking themselves. That’s why we caught up with Adam Tishman, Co-Founder of Helix Sleep, the first direct-to-consumer mattress brand, to give us inside tips on what to look for when you purchase a mattress.

1. Focus on yourself. It’s time to get real with yourself and figure out exactly what you want and need. Adam says, “Before going to a store or browsing online, answer questions about your needs and preferences. What’s your dominant sleeping position? What’s wrong (or right) with your current mattress? Do you like plusher or firmer? Do you get hot at night? Having these answers will refine your search.”

2. Plan your attack: You’ll want to take a hard look at dollars and cents before you start spending money you may or may not have. Adams says, “Don’t get stuck endlessly researching and trying different beds. Figure out your budget around both time and price. How long are you willing to look for a new mattress? How much are you willing to spend?”

3. Understand prices. Now that you understand your budget and have set realistic expectations on your spending power, know that the most expensive option might not mean it’s the best. Adam advises, “Mattresses are one of those products where a higher price point does not necessarily mean better quality. That is not to say that there is zero correlation, but rather, a warning to be careful that you’re not paying for extra features that do not improve sleep quality.”

4. Know realistic pricing. “As a general rule, any mattress costing over $800 (Queen size) can be made from higher-quality materials (ex. longer lasting, better performance), so I wouldn’t go much below that if you want the bed to last. On the other hand, I would dig into why any mattress costs more than $2,000,” notes Adam.

5. You need more than five minutes. After all, we’re not picking up takeout for dinner here. And it doesn’t matter where you’re making a purchase, plan to spend some time doing some digging. Adam says, “Whether buying online or at brick-and-mortar retail, it is vital to remember that lying on a mattress for five minutes is a very poor test for whether or not a mattress is right to sleep on for the next 10 years. It can take up to 2-3 weeks for someone to get used to any new mattress, so make sure you purchase a mattress with a strong return or trial policy.”

6. Size doesn’t matter. “There has been a recent trend toward trying to up-sell customers to a thicker mattress for additional dollars. Don’t fall prey to this trick. As long as your mattress is a minimum of eight inches thick, you should be in good shape.” Noted, Adam.